The Breakdown – King of the Hill (2022)
Formed only three weeks before the UK nationwide lockdown, London-based The Breakdown draw together elements of post-punk, new wave and punk rock. Inspired by the likes of The Smiths, XTC and The Jam, it is clear that the foursome is bursting with sharp catchy edginess in their sound. One of the bands to come together during this uncertain Covid pandemic, The Breakdown effortlessly slithers into your brain with their energetic music.
While the lads only started releasing material mid-2021 and are relatively new on the scene, they are already turning heads on a global scale. Featured on Pop Fad, RGM, Sinusoidal Music and Roadie Music, Mike Connell (lead vocals), Richard Gale (guitar and backing vocals), Andy Strevens (guitar) and Toby Young (drums) are sharing their sound with the masses. The latest addition to their discography is ‘King of the Hill’.
Following their single ‘ALARM!’, The Breakdown adopts a heavier, faster and more energetic stance in ‘King of the Hill’. Grabbing your hand and throwing you headfirst into a tumultuous sonic river, you are tossed about from side to side in a frenetic way. The thing is you love every second with a stupid grin on your face! Combining dynamic guitars, pounding drums and Connell’s gruff vocals, The Breakdown brings a contemporary edginess to the almost synth-pop meets post-punk sounds of the 80s.
It is easy to lose your mind in the chaotic swirl of sound in ‘King of the Hill’, but the madness has a form of flowing melody to its arrangement. Young’s drumming skills pound away while Gale and Strevens’ guitars add a distortion to the tune; however, it is the merging of instrumentation and vocals that makes the track. Instead of being something abrupt and brash, ‘King of the Hill’ is conceptual with an elegant, poetic execution.
Recorded with Paul Tipler, ‘King of the Hill’ touches on societal despair, trial and error, and living in a world of melancholic modernity. Weaving a tapestry of existential issues with raw truths, The Breakdown explores how modern society is affecting our lives. An element of human fragility is found, but with a blast of gritty chaos.
For more from The Breakdown check out their official website, Facebook and Spotify.
